Font-distinguisher for typographical machines.



J. A. CROMBIE & T. S. HUMANS. FONT DISTINGUISHER FOR T YPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1914' WITNESSES i JAIMES A. CROM BIE, OF BROOKLYN, ANDTHOMAS S. HUMANS, 0F HEMPSTEAJD, NEW

YORK. I

FONT-DISTlINGUISHER FOB, TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES.

Application; filed January 6, 1914.. Serial No. 810,673.

, Hempstead, in the counties of Kings and Nassau, respectively, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Font- Distinguishers for Typographical Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in typographical machines and more especially to those of the linotype class employing distributing mechanism whereby the matrices after use are returned to the respective magazine channels, and the primary objects of the invention are to-provide means whereby matrices belonging to a wrong font are prevented from entering the distributing mechanism or the distributer box forming part thereof and thereby enabling the operator to remove a wrong font matrix with greater facility than hereto-' fore, and to provide means whereby the font distinguisher can be adjusted readily for different fonts from the front of the machine.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully. described, the

novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine of the 'linotype class as viewed from the left sidc embodying'the present invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a portion of the distributilig mechanism, the same being on anenlarged scale; Fig. 3 represents a section on the line 3-3of Fig. 2.

Similar parts are designated'by the same reference characters in the several views.

"Ehe present invention is applicable generally to line composing and type casting machines wherein the matrices after a cast has been made therefrom are distributed and returned to the appropriate channels of insertion of a rod orspccial tool:

' the distributor box.

used is 'carried to the upper rear part of the machine, thence fed through what is known as a dist'ributer box, the matrices being distributed and returned to the magazine after passingfihrough the distributor box.

, Heretofore it has been customaryto place a device lmowlyas a font distinguisher at or adjacent to the inner end of thedis tributer box'for the purpose of preventing matrices *not belonging to the particular font or set in use from passing t6 the distributing mechanism. A font distinguisher of such type is disclosed in the patent to Albrecht, No. 560,459. When a wrong font matrix reaches the font distinguisher the distributing operation is interrupted and it- IS necessary to remove such matrix before the dlstributing operation can be resumed.

Specificati otters Patent. P t ted July 25', 1e16,

Heretofore where the font distinguisher has been placed at or adjacent to the inner end of the distributer box, a wrong font matrix would not reach the font distinguisher until the line of matrices had passed into the dis- :the wrong font matrix has' proven to be awkward and inconvenient and required the According to the present invention, thefont distinguisher is located at the entrance to the distributor box, thereby preventing the entranceofa wrong font matrix into the boxand. enabling the "operator to easily handle tributer box, and the operation of removing the'line with the fingers to remove the 'ob' structing matrix.

. In the present instance '1 designatespart of the nsam frame-of the machine, it having a bracket 2 fixed thereto, and a pair of'side plates 3 and 4c secured to the bracket to form A ribbed rail- 5 is lo-' 'cated within the distributer box and isse cured to the under side of the bracket 2, the ribs on this rail cofoperating with the teeth in-the upper ends of the matrices. The line" of matrices passing into the dist'ributer box comes against a stop or shoulder .6 formed ion a rail 7, and the matrices are successively -removed from the line and engaged with the 'distributer screws 8 by a lifter 9, the latter:

being'driven in the usual way from a cam 10 i on one of the distributer screws. lhe line of matrices is pushed. through the distributer boxby a shifter which embodies a head Ill-which is carri eolby an arm 12, the latter being connected to a slide 13 and the slide reciprocates in a guide 14:, the latter being fixed to or forming part of the main frame.

The font distinguisher according to the present invention is mounted at the entrance end of the distributer box, it comprising'in the construction shown a rod 15 which is movable longitudinally in a guide 16 and in a direction transversely of the matrix passageway in the distributer box. The rod 15'- is formed at its inner end with an upturned tooth 17 which is adapted to occupy a position in line with the font distinguishing notch M formed in the bottom of each Inatrix M, it being understood that the font distinguishing notches for all the matrices belonging to the same font or set are located in the same position while matrices belongingto different fonts or sets will have the font distinguishing notches arranged at different positions in a transverse direction. The fontfdistingulsher 1s movable transversely of the matrix passageway 1n the distributer box in order that it may be set for the distribution of matrices of different fonts. It follows that if the line contains any matrices, the font distinguishing notches of which are out of line with the tooth 17 the movement of the line into the distributer box will be arrested owing tothe engage-' ment of the tooth 17 with an unnotched portion of the odd or wrong font matrix. ,By arresting the line under such circumstances before the. same has reached the distributer from the center to the rear orcharacter side of the matrix is suflicient to accommodate the font, distinguishing notches and, according to the present invention, the font distinguisher and its supporting guide extend only partiway across the distributer box, a "space being provided between the font dis; v its guide and the oppositei side of the. distributer box thrbrighwhich tinguisher and the arm 12 may pass without obstruction. The present invention also provides means whereby the font distinguisher can be set with the greatest facility by the operator,

that is to say, it can be set from the front of the machineand without requiring the operator to go to the back of the machine for this purpose as heretofore. In the construction shown, a link .18 is pivotai-ly connected at-l9 to a fork 9n the outersend of incantathe rod 15, this link being pivotally connected at 20 to the upper end of a lever 21. This lever 21 is pivoted to a stationary part of the machine at 22 and has a rod or handle 23 pivotally connected to its lower end. This rod or handle extends to the front of the machine within convenient reach of the operator and means is provided for retaining the font distinguisher in different set positions. In the construction shown, a bracket 24 is fixed to the machine and has a slot- 25 and a series of teeth or notches 26 formed therein, the rod or handle 23 having a pin or projection 27 which is adapted to travel in the slot 25 and to rest in any one of the notches 26 according to the par-' ticular font for which the .distinguisher is set. The lever 21 is so proportioned that the notches 26 in thebracket 2 f may be spaced apart a considerable distance and correspond with relatively close adjustments of the font distinguisher with the advantage that the operator can readilyset the font distinguisher from his seat at the keyboard and the parts can be made more easily as any slight errors in the spacing of the notches 26 would not interfere with the cor-' rect operation of-the font distinguisherQ We claim as our invention 1. In a machine of the linotype class, in

combination with the distributer box through I which the lines of matrices are passed prior to distribution, of means at the entrance end of the distributer box to prevent wrong font matrices from passing into said box.

2. In a machine of the linotype class, the

combination of the distributer box having a channel or raceway through which the matrices are pushed, said channelbeing-open at the lower side, a font distinguisher located at the entrance of said box to prevent the entrance of wrong font matrices and extending part way across the open side of the box, and a matrix pusher having a sup porting arm adapted to pass between the distinguishgr and the opposite side of the channel.

3. In a machine of the linttype class, the combinationwith a distributer box having a passageway for a line of matrices, and

means for pushing a lineof matrices through said boxg of a font distinguisher located at the entrance ofsaid box to prevent wrong font matrices passing into the box and permitting movement of the line-pushing means past the same.

4. In a machine of the linotype class, the combination with a distributer box havin a passageway for a line of matrices, said' passageway being open at the bottom of the" box, a pusher for feeding a line of matrices through said passageway, said pusher having an actuatingarm extendingupwardly through the open bottom ofthe box, anda font distinguisher located. at the entrance of different positions from one side to the center of the said passagesey and an actuating arm for the pusher movable past said font .distinguisher in a space between the latter and the opposite side of said passageway.

In testnuony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subsoribing Witnesses.

JAMES A. CROM'BIE.

THOMAS S, HOMANS. Witnesses:

W. E. BERTRAM CON. A. Kums. 

